Comparison:
JERRY: This may be the most perfect jacket I have ever put on. (Elaine grabs the tag) How much is it?
ELAINE: (Shocked) Oh my God.
JERRY: Bad? (Elaine nods) . . . Very bad?
ELAINE: You have no idea.
JERRY: I have some idea.
ELAINE: No idea.
JERRY: I've got a ballpark.
ELAINE: There is no park and the team has relocated.
Larry David and J. Seinfeld decided to revamp and offer new life to a stealth metaphor (a “ballpark“ guess of a price). The Seinfeld character “Elaine“ stepped up to the plate thereby gave fresh steam (or swing power) by moving the team away. You too can take wornout, overused, tired stealth metaphors and give them renewed vigor and force. See Chapter Five in Metaphors and Beyond: The Guide for much more.
Context:
JERRY: (Looks at a jacket) What is this? (Holds it up) This is beautiful . . . but these jackets never fit me right.
ELAINE: Try it on. (Feels it) Wow, this is soft suede.
JERRY: This may be the most perfect jacket I have ever put on. (Elaine grabs the tag) How much is it?
ELAINE: (Shocked) Oh my God.
JERRY: Bad? (Elaine nods) . . . Very bad?
ELAINE: You have no idea.
JERRY: I have some idea.
ELAINE: No idea.
JERRY: I've got a ballpark.
ELAINE: There is no park and the team has relocated.
JERRY: (Looks at the tag) . . . That is high.
ELAINE: Oh man, that is a beautiful jacket, though.
Citation:
David, Larry and Jerry Seinfeld. “The Jacket.” Seinfeld, 06 Feb. 1991. seinfeldscripts.com, Web.
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